You can do it!

Trust me, potty training doesn’t have to be hard or stressful. Even as a first-time single mom with no dad in the house to help out, I managed to potty train my son in less than a week (actually, 5 days!), and you can too. Read on to find out how I did it.

Try Naked Time

Let your child peruse your home…naked, or in just a T-shirt. Because he’s not wearing a diaper or underwear, he’ll have no place to put his pee or poop; he needs to put it somewhere—in the toilet would be a good idea! When he does put it in the potty, make sure you both have a look (yuck, I know, but the visual is important.) Make flushing a huge deal by pointing at the swirling water and acknowledging the cool whooshing sound.

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Give a Reward (and Get Creative!)

Stickers, stamps on the hand, bubbles or a single M&M are all good potty prizes. Kick it up a notch by taking your child to the dollar store so he can pick out a super-special potty prize for a training milestone like the first full day in undies or staying dry overnight. Food prizes like a pizza party for dinner or ice cream sundae bar for dessert (set out sprinkles, gummy bears and cherries in bowls, and let your child create his own sundae) are also great ideas. If you don’t want to spend money, look around your house for an art project you can do together and display it so he can show off his “potty prize.”

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I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Pee

The Method:

Each time your child uses the potty correctly, sing his praises. Ask relatives to fuss over him, too.

Pros:

Internalized rewards build self-esteem, and kids usually relish attention more than any toy.

Cons:

Avoid going overboard, says Christophersen. “Then, when your child has an accident, he may be deflated by the lack of support.” Tell him that accidents happen!

Is It Right for You?

Words of encouragement are always a smart choice. Soon you'll be patting yourself on the back, too—for escaping the changing table's clutches!

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Be Proactive at School

Be sure to alert your child’s teacher to the fact that you are actively potty training at home. Teachers are busy with lots of kids, not just yours, so if your child needs a reminder to go, be sure to share this with the teacher. Make going potty at school less scary by exploring the facilities with your child. Try drop-off a little earlier so you can accompany your child into the bathroom and watch as he does his business. If you reward with stickers at home, bring some in for the teacher—she’ll gladly give them out to your potty pro.

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Show 'Em How It’s Done

For single moms, teaching a little boy how to stand and pee can be an obvious challenge. Sure, you can pop him on a stool and tell him to go for it, but trust me, a visual is much better. Have a male role model like grandpa, a godfather or uncle show your son exactly what to do. Make it more fun by giving him things to aim at, like bright Fruit Loops or Tinkle Targets. In no time, your son will be standing and peeing on his own (phew, since public facilities are so germy).

Stephanie Rausser

Take It on the Road

I love Potette—it’s a portable potty your child can use in the car or discreetly at the park. Potty Toppers come in handy when he needs to use a public restroom. Wipes and spare clothes are also important to store in the car and in your child’s cubby at school. Buy a few cheapie pairs of pants so you always have a clean set when you need them.

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Limit Bedtime Drinks

Lay off milk and juice at least an hour before bedtime to help your child stay dry at night. That might mean you serve a later dinner so your child’s full and doesn’t need more food and drinks right before bed. Remember, nighttime training often comes later than daytime training; you might want to focus on one at a time so you don’t overwhelm your kiddo. It’s fine for her to start off sleeping and napping in a pull-up. She’ll likely wake up dry if you reel in the drinks, and soon she’ll be ready to hit the sack in underwear.

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Read Potty-themed Books

My son is a fan of Diapers Are Not Forever. It’s bright and engaging—and, bonus, the back cover lists potty training tips for parents. Everybody Poops is another easily digestible book your child will love, especially if he’s mastered peeing in the potty but is reluctant about going No. 2.